Snow totals are in, and many saw a fluffy 1–3 inches, with sharp cutoffs to the south. The back edge of snow is moving out, but lingering slick spots remain this morning. Watch out for an evening freeze-up as temperatures crash below freezing and strong wind gusts of 40-50 mph move in. Danielle shares the latest forecast…and be sure to check out Matt’s thoughts on the next 2 weeks in Pattern Predictions.
A dynamic weather pattern continues across the U.S. today, with severe weather, heavy rain, and wintry precipitation impacting different regions.
Southern Plains & Mississippi Valley: A strong low-pressure system is pushing across the southern and central Plains today, bringing widespread thunderstorms, heavy rain, and the potential for severe weather. A warm and moist flow from the Gulf of Mexico is fueling storms, with the highest threat for flash flooding and isolated severe thunderstorms focused from eastern Texas through the Mid and Lower Mississippi Valley. Strong to severe storms will continue into Thursday as this system moves eastward.
Great Lakes & Northeast: A fast-moving Alberta Clipper is sweeping through the Northeast, bringing a strong cold front and widespread snow showers. Snow squalls are a major concern, particularly from the Great Lakes into the interior Northeast and northern Mid-Atlantic. These squalls could lead to sudden bursts of heavy snow, gusty winds, and sharply reduced visibility, creating dangerous travel conditions. The heaviest snow accumulations will be downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario, as well as in the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire. The front will usher in a much colder air mass, with below-normal temperatures expected across the Northeast through Thursday.
West Coast & Rockies: High pressure dominates the western U.S. today, but the pattern changes by late week as an atmospheric river event targets the Pacific Northwest and northern California. By Friday, heavy rain and mountain snow will increase across the coastal ranges and interior mountains, bringing concerns for flooding and significant snowfall in higher elevations.
Temperature Trends: Much of the Central and Eastern U.S. will experience well above-average temperatures today, with highs running 10 to 20 degrees above normal, especially across the Midwest and northern Plains. However, a sharp contrast will exist in the Northeast, where a passing cold front will bring below-normal temperatures. The Southwest will continue to experience cooler-than-normal conditions through Thursday before moderating later in the week.
An active weather day is unfolding across the Northeast as a clipper system races through the region, dragging a potent cold front behind it. This front will be responsible for multiple winter weather hazards, including snow squalls, gusty winds, and lake-effect snow.
Snow Squalls & Dangerous Travel Conditions: A fast-moving cold front will bring a line of snow squalls from western New York through New England today, particularly from late morning into the afternoon. These squalls will produce intense bursts of heavy snow, gusty winds, and rapid drops in visibility, leading to hazardous travel conditions. While accumulations may be light, the impact will be high, with quick reductions in visibility and slick roads. The most vulnerable locations for these squalls include the Mohawk Valley, the Hudson Valley, western and central Massachusetts, and southern Vermont and New Hampshire.
Lake-Effect & Upslope Snow: In the wake of the front, cold westerly winds will trigger lake-effect snow bands off Lakes Erie and Ontario, with the Tug Hill Plateau, western Adirondacks, and northern Green Mountains seeing the heaviest accumulations. Additional upslope snow is expected across the higher terrain of Vermont and New Hampshire, with accumulations ranging from 4 to 10 inches in these areas.
Strong Winds & Cold Air: Winds will increase sharply behind the front, with widespread gusts of 40-50 mph across southern New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, with even higher gusts possible in the higher terrain. A Wind Advisory is in effect for many areas, with localized power outages and difficult travel conditions possible. The strong winds will usher in much colder air, with temperatures rapidly falling into the teens and single digits tonight. Wind chills will drop well below zero, particularly in northern New York and northern New England.
Looking Ahead: Thursday will be cold but dry as high pressure briefly builds in. Attention then turns to a developing system for Friday that could bring a mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain, and rain to the region. Uncertainty remains regarding precipitation types and amounts, but areas north of the Massachusetts Turnpike have the highest chance of accumulating snow and ice.
